When You Bike On Campus
- Always wear a helmet when riding your bike. The Campus Bike Shop sells high-quality helmets for about $20—an inexpensive way to protect a valuable head.
- Always lock your bike and NEVER leave your bike unlocked, locked only to itself, or with only the front wheel locked. We recommend using a U-lock such as Kryptonite and a six-foot cable or chain—the thicker the better. Bicycle theft is the most common campus crime, and most bike thefts are due to cut cable locks. The U-lock allows you to lock your bike at any rack, and a heavy chain will secure your wheels as well. Check out the bicycle security package available from the Campus Bike Shop.
- Register your bike—it’s $3.50 for three years and your only chance of recovery if your bike is stolen. You can register your bike during registration events in White Plaza during New Student Orientation; from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Fridays throughout the year; and at the Parking and Transportation Services (PandTS) office, 340 Bonair Siding (723-9362).
- Engrave your name on your bike (see the Campus Bike Shop) or cover your bike with stickers and use nail polish to write your name on it.
- Always ride with working brakes —get new pads and adjustments at any bike shop.
- Park your bike in designated spaces. Do not park your bike in front of stairs, ramps, doorways, or building entrances—your sight- and mobility-impaired classmates need unencumbered access to the buildings. The Department of Public Safety will cut the locks and impound bikes locked to any object other than a bike rack, or bikes that block wheelchair access.
- Use a bike light and wear light-colored clothing when riding at night. Parking and Transportation Services gives free bike lights as part of the registration process. State law requires cyclists to use front white lights, rear red reflectors, pedal, and side reflectors at night. For added safety, use rear red flashers, and reflectors.
- Follow traffic laws. Bicyclists are expected to comply with the same traffic laws as motor vehicle drivers and may be ticketed if they do not. To avoid a citation, stop at stop signs, ride in the direction of traffic, and use the same turn lanes as motor vehicle drivers.
If your bike is stolen
- Report it to the Stanford Police Department (723-9633) immediately. Provide the registration number, serial number, make, model, size, and color of the bike.
If you see suspicious activity or a bike theft in progress
- Dial 9-911 from a campus phone (911 from most cell phones) or use a Blue Light Emergency Tower phone.
- Give the dispatcher the time and location of the incident and a description of the suspect.
Learn more about Bicycle rules and safety at the California DMV website.